Snacks In No Time: Hot Cocoa

It is a gray miserable day today, and now it is raining cats and dogs.  I wonder where that sentiment came from… On cold winter days or during rainy days, I try to make something special to keep the family in good spirits.
In our family we love Hot Cocoa.  We like it best made from scratch, but we do buy the mix, or sometimes I make the mix also.  We pull out the special mugs, and make cookies to go with our warm mugs of joy.

Hot Cocoa
Ingredients

• 1 cup of milk
  
• 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
  
• 2 Tbsp. Sugar
  
• 1 Tbsp. Cocoa Powder
  
• a dash of salt

Instructions
Mix dry ingredients in a small bowl.  Heat milk in microwaveable container, until hot.  We use a 4 cup plastic liquid measuring cup.  Add vanilla and dry ingredients to milk and whisk until frothy and mixed. Pour into mugs and serve with freshly baked cookies.

Hot Cocoa Mix
Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups Sugar
  
• 1 cup Cocoa Powder
  
• 2 tsp. Salt
  
• 1/2 cup Dry Milk.

Instructions
Mix all ingredients and place into a sealed container.
To Use: 

• 2 Tbsp. of Mix
  
• 1 Cup Hot Milk
  
• splash of vanilla.

Add all ingredients to a mug and mix.  Enjoy.

Mix It Up: Fresh Wild-Berry Pancakes

While my family was visiting us the other day, we wanted to make a special breakfast.  My oldest daughter went out and picked fresh blackberries and raspberries, since they grow right around our house. 
We used pancake mix and made pancakes as usual.  We added a few berries to the top of the batter as it was cooking, then flipped them.  We just wanted to make it a little more special, and still keep it simple. 
Trying recipes that are already your favorites and adding just a little flair can really make them more special. 
Add ins to pancake mix or waffle mix:

• Sprinkles
  
• Chocolate chips
  
• Mini marshmallows
  
• Frozen berries
  
• Chopped nuts
  
• M&M minis
  
• Chopped Apples mixed in Cinnamon Sugar
  
• Crushed Toffee Bits
  
• Chopped Candy bars
  
• Shredded Coconut
  
• Banana chunks or mashed
  
• Pumpkin Puree
  
• Instant Coffee
  
• Crispy Bacon
  
• Fresh or frozen berries
  
• Poppy Seeds and Lemon Zest
  
• Uncooked Oatmeal
  
• Fiber One cereal that has been powdered in a blender.

Toppings for pancakes or waffles:

• Frozen berries cooked down with sugar, honey or maple syrup added to them then blended to a sauce.  If seedy, strain then mix with a tsp. of corn starch for thickening. 
  
• Whipped Cream
  
• Apple Butter
  
• Brown Sugar and butter
  
• Fresh Fruits
  
• Honey
  
• Maple Syrup
  
• Chocolate, Caramel, Marshmallow, or Strawberry syrup.
  
• Yogurt
  
• Sweet Cream Spread

Most importantly mix things up and have fun with it.  Giving kids variety and choices are excellent ways to get them to eat.  Let me know what you think.  Enjoy your family and make a fun memory.

Boredom Buster: Local Arts

When I was a child I grew up in an town where there was a local center for the arts.  They had plays, local artists artwork, classes for kids that involved crafts, dance, and musicals.  The art center was a place I treasured as a child.  I remember going there for:

• dance classes
  
• making paper
  
• egg decorating with wax
  
• plays
  
• an amazing haunted house at Halloween
  
• musicals

I loved the atmosphere there, and I strive in my adulthood to share these qualities with my own children.  Allowing creativity is truly calming and uplifting in a world of chaos.  Having those impressions so early really has allowed me to find the art in every craft.  Whether it be cooking, writing, interior decorating, home making, parenting, boat building or even gardening.  Art can be anything where people can find the beauty within. 
That art center has now expanded to share there shows with the entire region.  Amazing!  I love the value that it has brought to the area and local communities.  Spreading beauty in a time of darkness raises peoples spirits to allow us all to continue to grow.
Just the other day I took my daughters and one of their friends to a Shakespearian play on the beach.  I mean how cool is that!  I had to explain to them what was happening at times, but sharing this event with them expands their views on what is really possible in this world.  Dreaming big shouldn’t be condemned it should be embraced.
Check out your local newspapers, public radio websites, and flyers that come to you in the mail.  Maybe you too have something in your area.  Even if you think that it might be some lame artsy fartsy idea. Keep looking until one sparks your interest even slightly, give it a try and then let me know!   I would love to hear your thoughts on this. 

Boredom Buster: Outdoor Theater

I have seen a few ways to make an outside theater.  The first time I saw it, I fell in love with the idea.  I even want to build a deck in the future,  keeping this idea in mind.  It is less expensive then a drive in and it gets the family outside on these peaceful  summer evenings. 
Outdoor Theater Ideas:

1. Get a video projector, a DVD player, speakers and a white sheet then set them up outside, either in a garden or on a deck.
   
2. Get a flat screen TV, a DVD Player, and Speakers then set the up either in a garden or on a deck.
   
3. My portable, yet smaller version:  We took my 15” laptop onto the back deck and set it up.  Granted its not huge, but until we can afford a different way, that doesn’t tear apart our whole living room, this really does work beautifully.  You could connect the computer up to a set of desktop speakers for a more abundant sound.

My kids wanted so much to watch movies last night, that we set their tent up on the deck.  Then we set my laptop up inside the tent with them (making sure to give the fan clearance not to overheat, we set it on a bed tray) and they had a double feature.  Dampness can ruin electronics, so we brought in my computer and tray after the movies were over.  The kids slept in the tent all night and had a wonderful time.
Without the mosquitos, getting home so late and worrying about driver not seeing kids in the dark, the tent version is a safer and better option to the drive in theater for kids.  They loved it so much that they want to do it again tonight.

• If you have a subscription to Netflix, or Amazon Prime, you could have streaming movies, using the laptop version as well.

I would love to hear your comments, or if you have another way that I didn’t mention, please share.  Have a great summer everyone.

Living By Example

This past fall when my world was falling to pieces, and my parents were both dying, I learned to be constructive instead of destructive.  Every family has its faults and troubles without going into the nitty gritty, so do we.  My siblings and I hadn’t really been tight since childhood.  My parents divorced when I was a baby and we weren’t ever really all that close.
I realized the possibility of both of our parents dying was inevitable.  We would lose the glue that forced us to deal with each other, forever.  Being the youngest, and knowing that I want better for my own kids made me see that I needed to do something, fast.  If only to give my parents the peace of knowing that we would be ok, and that we would truly be there for each other.
I explained this to my sister and two brothers, and we all worked really hard on accepting one another.  We helped each other through the passing of my mother.  And now we can share in the victory of my fathers remission. 
My oldest brother is in the military, and I am so proud of his service to our country.  He will be leaving on another deployment very soon.  Again the foundation of our sibling unity will be tested.  He came to visit us recently and I am so grateful, for the opportunity to visit with him.  My prayers and thoughts will be with him, on his next challenge.
Writing this blog has made me really focus on my newly revived philosophy.  Don’t take any moment for granted, you can look at the bumps in life as a personal insult towards yourself or you can look at them for the life lessons that they are and do something about it.  Thank you Mom for the lesson you taught us with your life.  I will be eternally grateful and appreciative, and I miss you.
God chose my family, I chose my friends.  I chose to befriend my family, and am eternally blessed.